Sponge cleaner device



May 25, 1954 J. PALMA, JR, ETAL 2,679,064

SPONGE CLEANER DEVICE Filed July 31 1951 ATTURNEYS.

Patented May 25, 1954 Joseph Palma, Jr., Berwyn, and James Lombard, 111., assigners G. Knapp, to O-Cedar Corpn,

Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 31, 1951, Serial No. 239,581

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a sponge cleaner device., The device is useful in the washing of dishes'and cleaning other surfaces and articles.

A'n'objec't of the invention is to provide a sponge cleaner device of extremely simple construction which is useful for the cleaning of dishes and other articles or surfaces while at the same time providing means for quick wringing of the sponge. A further object is to provide a sponge device which is manipulatable by the user without bringing her hands into contact with the washing solution, etc., while at the same time providing means for securing the sponge firmly upon a handle and enabling the operator to wring the sponge readily as desired. A still further object is to provide an improved sponge cleaner device and supporting structure therefor enabling the sponge to be separated from a holder while at the same time providing means for securely retaining the sponge upon the holder during use, etc. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of a sponge cleaner device embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the sponge and insert support thereof; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the handle or holder for the sponge; Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line t4 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line -5 of Fig. 1.

In the illustration given, it designates a sponge which is preferably slitted or recessed from the rear thereof toward the front but terminating short of the front of the sponge, the recess being indicated by the numeral I l. Within the recess is secured a flat plate or blade support I2 which preferably tapers from the rear slightly toward its forward end. The fiat blade extends transversely of the sponge l0 and preferably through the greater part of the width of the sponge. It may be secured within the sponge by a-friction fit, but I prefer to unite it firmly within the recess by the use of adhesive.

The insert plate 52 may be formed of plastic, metal, or any other suitable material, and is preferably provided with a rearwardly-extending tongue or attachment extension I3.

The sponge it may be a natural sponge or it may be an artificial sponge and may be formed of any suitable material. The sponge It may be of member i5 is any suitable shape; I prefer, however, to employ a sponge having the shape illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 with the sides of the sponge tapering in-. wardly to form a reduced pointed forward end portion I 4.

The holder l 5 may be of any suitable construction. I prefer to employ a holder having a handreceiving handle portion l6 and depending therefrom at the forward end a socket portion I1. The socket portion 8? drops downwardly from the forward end of the handle portion It with a sharply angled portion and then extends forwardly to provide a horizontal portion 18 provided with a socket it. The holder or handle preferably formed of molded plasbe formed of metal, wood, or any material. In the illustration given, the socket It provides a tight friction fit for the tongue 13 so that the two parts are rigidly held together when tongue [3 is pressed into the socket [9. However, other means may be provided for locking the two parts together. In the operation of the device, the sponge member, as disclosed in Fig. 2, is united to the holder member it, as shown in Fig. 3, by pressing the tongue (3 tightly within the socket l 9. The handle portion may then be grasped and the sponge pressed downwardly into the water. The lower portion of the sponge forms an excellent means for cleaning dishes, cooking vessels, etc., and may be cleaned by immersing it in clear water and repeatedly flushing the sponge. The handle it permits the user to press the lower portion ofthe sponge against a surface for effective flushing of the water therefrom, the broad plate 12 providing a presser surface enabling the operator to squeeze the water from the entire lower portion of the sponge by merely pressing down upon the handle 3. Similarly, the top portion of the sponge may be flushed by pressing it upwardly against a surface.

In cleaning dishes, the pressing of both sides of the sponge can be accomplished against the dish itself by pressing the sponge downwardly against tic, but may other suitable the top surface of the plate and later pressing the sponge against the lower portion of the plate. In actual practice, the user constantly presses the sponge in cleaning the upper and lower surfaces of the plate, and the flushing of the sponge is accomplished automatically.

When a sponge has become worn, it may be removed from the handle and replaced with a new sponge; further, sponges of different sizes may be used interchangeably with the same handle or holder device. By having the hori- |upward direction to flush the water therefrom against lower and upper abutments.

While in the foregoing specification, we have set forth a specific structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating an embodi-- ment of the invention, it will be understood that such details may be varied substantially by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

In a sponge cleaner device, a sponge body having a. relatively flat work surface, a relatively flat plate embedded within said sponge body and lying in a plane generally parallel to the plane of said work surface, said plate being equipped with a rearwardly-extending tongue projecting outwardly from said sponge body and lying substantially in a plane defined by said plate, a socket having a forwardly-extending portion provided with a recess therein releasably receiving said tongue therein with a. frictional grip and having also a sharply angled portion extending upwardly 5 from said forwardly-extending portion,

and a handle carried by said angled portion and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom.

References Cited in the file or" this patent Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Goltermann Sept. 5, 1899 Gray Dec. 25, 1923 Schwarz July 3, 1928 Josselyn Mar. 13, 1934 Klein Dec. 6, 1949 McNeill Dec. 13, 1949 Orndorfi Mar. 21, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Sept. 18, 1930 

